Scottish Executive

Access to Information

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total costs of providing information under the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information have been in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02 to date.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not available.

  All requests for information received by the Scottish Executive and other public authorities covered by the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information must be considered under the terms of the code. As the number of requests for information run into many thousands it is not practicable to provide detailed information on the associated costs. For monitoring purposes, statistics are collected on those requests where the applicant specifically mentions the code, or where the request is refused or where charges are made. During the calendar year 2000 there were 44 such requests.

Access to Information

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost per hour of retrieving information under the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information has been in respect of each body named in Schedule 1 of the code in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02 to date.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not available.

  All requests for information received by the Executive and other public authorities covered by the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information must be considered under the terms of this code (whether or not the code is cited). For monitoring purposes, requests for information are recorded as "formal" requests under the code if the applicant specifically mentions the code, or where the information is refused or where a charge is to be made.

  Under the code, charges may be made - on the basis of actual staff costs to search for and retrieve information and, where appropriate, photocopy it - if the cost to the public authority of providing the requested information is above £100. During the period 1 July 1999 to 31 December 2000, 27 requests for information (of many thousands) were recorded as having incurred charges.

  Details of formal code requests for the calendar year 2001 will be available early this year.

Digital Inclusion

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to link general practitioners in urban regeneration areas to the new broadband technology.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHSScotland planning is directed to achieve consistent access to appropriate telecommunications network services across all general medical practices including those in urban regeneration areas. General medical practices across Scotland are linked to secure, private NHS telecommunications network facilities. Where appropriate these links, which are in the main ISDN links, are upgraded to higher capacity lines, for example in larger Health Centres. Where clinical need justifies it, for example in telemedicine applications, broadband technologies can be made available. It is anticipated that needs will increase and, in keeping with the Executive’s broadband strategy, future contracts for telecommunications services will continue to ensure that higher bandwidths are available as necessary.

Digital Inclusion

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to link schools in urban regeneration areas to the new broadband technology.

Nicol Stephen: A formal designation of urban regeneration areas no longer exists in Scottish Executive policy. Some areas that were previously designated for urban regeneration have been incorporated into Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) programmes.

  Schools currently form a major part of the Digital Scotland Pathfinder projects intended to roll out broadband infrastructure in the first instance to the public sector in the South of Scotland and the Highlands and Islands respectively. The Executive will be discussing with individual education authorities and with groups of authorities outside the Pathfinder areas their needs in relation to broadband in order to determine what levels and kinds of support it can offer in each case.

  Following these discussions, and taking into account progress in the Pathfinder areas, the Executive will be in a position to offer a range of advice and support to those education authorities that are not included in the Pathfinder projects.

Digital Inclusion

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to identify those voluntary sector partners in urban regeneration areas who wish to access cable and satellite broadband technology.

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to identify the business needs for new broadband technology in Social Inclusion Partnership areas.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive launched a broadband strategy on 31 August 2001 with the aim of promoting affordable pervasive broadband across Scotland. The strategy includes aggregated public sector procurement which will be taken forward initially in two pathfinder areas - the Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland. We aim to invest in broadband capacity for public services in a way that stimulates providers to supply a wider range of services to businesses and consumers. Depending on market development we will consider how far the zonal approach needs to be extended beyond the pathfinder areas.

  The Executive is also beginning to look at broadband demand stimulation measures. As a first step we are looking at how we can utilise the DTI £30 million broadband fund for this. £4.4 million has been allocated to Scotland for innovative broadband projects. We have worked with the enterprise agencies to develop proposals, including demand stimulation measures and network projects. This approach is intended to complement the work in pathfinder areas. Projects are likely to be spread across Scotland, including areas outwith the pathfinders.

Education

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make on-road cycle training available to all school children.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Cycle Training Scheme, overseen by the Scottish Road Safety Campaign, recommends that on-road training should be provided where possible. The safety of children being trained is paramount. Police and local authority Road Safety Units are responsible for carrying out risk assessment on any roads to be used for on-road training and for decisions on whether it is appropriate to conduct on-road training in any particular case. The scheme will continue to be promoted in schools throughout Scotland.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities regarding the use of classroom assistants.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Office issued detailed guidance to all Directors of Education in April 1999 about the implementation of the Classroom Assistants initiative. The guidance, which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 13145), covers issues such as job design, management and supervision, recruitment, screening and training.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what qualifications or experience classroom assistants require before entering the classroom environment.

Nicol Stephen: The guidance issued by The Scottish Office to Directors of Education in April 1999 about the implementation of the Classroom Assistants initiative, sets out the following minimum entry standards which prospective Classroom Assistants are required to demonstrate prior to appointment:

  literacy and communication skills

  numeracy

  potential to develop and learn within the role

  ability to work with children

  ability to work co-operatively and under the direction of a teacher

  Before starting work in school, the guidance, which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 13145), suggests that all Classroom Assistants should receive basic induction training at authority, school and classroom level.

  A comprehensive list of topics for induction training is set out in Annex E of the guidance.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement a "winding down" scheme that allows mature teachers to reduce hours whilst continuing to base pensions on the final full-time salary, as outlined in Section 3 of the report A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century .

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is taking forward work on a winding down scheme as outlined in Section 3 of the report A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century  in partnership with the Scottish Public Pensions Agency. Discussions are taking place with the Inland Revenue and Treasury on the final detail of the scheme which will then be considered by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers.

Enterprise

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual estimated cost is to businesses of using premium rate phone calls to respond to unsolicited faxes.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The regulation of activities relating to the sending of direct marketing faxes is reserved to the UK Government. The Executive is not aware of any data gathered related to the estimated cost to businesses of using premium rate phone calls to respond to unsolicited faxes.

Environment

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to safeguard water quality in rivers, lochs and groundwaters.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is committed in its Programme of Government to safeguarding and improving Scotland’s environment. Scottish waters are a vital component of Scotland's image as a healthy and clean environment. They are, by and large, of good or excellent chemical and biological quality.

  Extensive research has identified a number of areas throughout Scotland as having unacceptable levels of nitrate pollution. Accordingly, I am today announcing the release of a consultation paper on proposals for new NVZs based on research and monitoring. Work will begin shortly to identify the precise boundaries of the proposed new NVZs. We will consult fully with farmers in these areas on the designations, and with other interested parties. The proposed new zones are in:

  the Black Isle and along the Moray Coast;

  Aberdeenshire, Banff and Buchan;

  Strathmore;

  Fife;

  Lothian and the Borders, and

  Nithsdale (Dumfries and Galloway)

  For the Black Isle and Moray Coast, parts of Strathmore, Falkirk and West Lothian we are obtaining further monitoring data to validate assessments of a high risk of nitrate pollution in these areas.

  We will work with farmers to phase-in action programme measures. Guidance on how to comply with the rules will be provided and grant assistance may be available towards the costs of additional slurry storage.

Europe

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19994 by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 December 2001, who briefed the UK delegation to the EU Health Council in Brussels on 15 November on matters in which Scotland has a particular interest.

Malcolm Chisholm: Briefing for these events is co-ordinated by the Department of Health in London with input as appropriate from devolved administrations.

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what persons that do not fall within the definition of Scottish public authority in section 3(1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill as introduced it intends to designate as Scottish public authorities by order under section 5(1) of the bill as introduced.

Mr Jim Wallace: The powers at section 5(1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill are included to ensure that ministers can respond to changes in the pattern of public service delivery, bringing public authorities within the coverage of the legislation as appropriate. If the legislation is enacted, consideration will be given in due course as to which bodies will be appropriate for designation for the purposes of the legislation.

General Practitioners

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the contract for the provision of general practitioner services subject to the deletion of matters that are commercially confidential.

Malcolm Chisholm: General practitioners (GPs) do not hold individual contracts. GPs who wish to provide General Medical Services (GMS) under the national GMS contract must gain admission to the medical list. While practising a GP must comply with the terms of service set out in The National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1995. Payments to GPs are as allowable under the "Statement of Fees and Allowances payable to General Medical Practitioners in Scotland". Both documents are available on line on the Scottish Health on the Web (SHOW) website.

  Personal Medical Services (PMS) schemes allow for different contractual arrangements than those possible under GMS. There has to be a contractual change from the national GMS contract to a local PMS contract. The same services which are provided under GMS have to be provided under PMS including 24-hour cover to a registered population. An outline PMS contract is available on the SHOW website.

Higher Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the chairmen and members of the Studentship Advisory Committee of the Student Awards Agency for Scotland were consulted about the recent decision to transfer the agency’s functions to the UK-wide Arts and Humanities Research Board.

Ms Wendy Alexander: No. I very much regret the omission, and I have arranged for the chairman, who drew the matter to my attention, to receive a full apology.

Higher Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a UK body such as the Arts and Humanities Research Board, based outside Scotland, is in a better position to evaluate applications for research funding into topics relating to Scottish culture than the Studentship Advisory Committee of the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Arts and Humanities Research Board already has a record of evaluating applications favourably for research funding from academic members of staff in higher education institutions in Scotland, including in the field of Scottish culture and society. The funding due to be transferred is moreover already intended to cover the full range of arts and humanities subjects in which Scottish students may wish to undertake advanced postgraduate research, not only those relating to Scottish culture.

Higher Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many members of the Arts and Humanities Research Board will be required to be experts in the field of Scottish culture and what representations it has made to the board on this issue.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Membership of the main board and its supporting panels and committees is a matter for the Arts and Humanities Review Board itself. However, the current review of the Arts and Humanities Research Board provides an opportunity to consider how Scottish interests are best represented. I note that the current Chair of the AHRB’s Research Committee is based at a Scottish university.

Housing

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18893 by Ms Margaret Curran on 26 November 2001, who will be allocated the £415 million earmarked for Glasgow City Council should the tenants of Glasgow vote against the wholesale housing stock transfer.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £415 million allocated to Glasgow City Council for new social housing building is allocated on the basis of housing need and, if so, why this money will only be allocated should the tenants vote for wholesale housing stock transfer.

Ms Margaret Curran: As a result of the agreement between the Scottish Executive and HM Treasury, if local authorities transfer their entire housing stock into community ownership, the Treasury will contribute to the costs of debt repayment. This will enable Scottish Executive funds to be freed up for further investment. If the transfer does not proceed these funds will not be available.

Justice

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18642 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 October 2001, what the date of retirement was for each of the retired judges called on for sittings of the Supreme Courts between 1 January 2001 and 31 August 2001.

Mr Jim Wallace: The services of five retired judges were called upon during the period 1 January to 31 August 2001. Their retirement dates are shown in the following table:

  


The Hon Lord Caplan 
  

28-Jan-00 
  



The Hon Lord Cowie 
  

30-Sep-94 
  



The Rt Hon the Lord McCluskey 
  

07-Jan-00 
  



The Hon Lord Morison 
  

05-Jan-97 
  



The Hon Lord Weir 
  

05-Jan-97

Local Government

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it takes to verify that outline business plans for Public/Private Partnership projects submitted by local authorities have in each case been discussed fully and approved by the members of the local authority.

Mr Andy Kerr: Arrangements for approval within local authorities are a matter of local accountability.

  Scottish Executive approval processes relate to the award of financial support and so are primarily concerned with ascertaining that the conditions for support have been met. One of the criteria against which outline business received in relation to Revenue Support for Public/Private Partnership Schools will be assessed is deliverability of the project. It encompasses, amongst other things, support for the project within the authority and approval by the members would be one such indication of support.

Local Government

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it takes to verify that financial information supporting outline business plans for Public/Private Partnership projects submitted by local authorities has in each case been seen and approved by the members of the local authority.

Mr Andy Kerr: Arrangements for approval within local authorities are a matter for the local authority.

  Scottish Executive approval processes relate to the award of financial support and so are primarily concerned with ascertaining that the conditions for support have been met. The Executive requires the Director of Finance for the local authority to certify the costs that are input to the calculation of revenue support in relation to the project. In addition, regardless of whether they are formal conditions of support, the Executive checks that the project is affordable and will deliver value for money.

Local Government

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it takes to ensure that commercial confidentiality issues do not impede full democratic discussion of proposed Public/Private Partnership business plans when they are discussed by local authority members prior to being submitted to the Executive.

Mr Andy Kerr: : Arrangements for approval within local authorities are a matter for local authorities.

  Scottish Executive approval processes relate to the award of financial support and so are primarily concerned with ascertaining that the conditions for support have been met. Guidance on the disclosure of information is given in Treasury Task Force Policy Statement No 4 which sets out general principles on the matter. Although primarily for central government departments, the document is publicly available on the Internet and in hard copy from the Scottish Executive. A copy is also available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 18318).

Local Government

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position would be with regard to any plan for a Public/Private Partnership project submitted by a local authority that permitted departments of the authority to bid for part or all of the contract.

Mr Andy Kerr: It is a matter for local authorities to decide whether such a plan complied with its current legal powers and obligations, such as those provided by Local Authorities (Goods & Services) Act 1970, although we would also expect it to take Best Value into account.

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20441 by Lewis MacDonald on 11 December 2001 and given that it is "not usual to provide details of discussions between ministers and third parties", how many written parliamentary questions seeking answers relating to such discussions (a) have fallen into this category, (b) received answers to the information requested, (c) did not receive the information requested over the previous six month period, broken down by question number, subject of question and the department providing the answers.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: Information in the form requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, the member will be aware that all written answers are published in the Written Answers Report available on the Parliament’s website.

Planning

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will give a decision on the notified planning application P/PP/75/96/LA/55 referred to it on 16 July 2001 in respect of the sports ground in North Meggetland, Edinburgh.

Ms Margaret Curran: This notified planning application was called in for determination by Scottish ministers on 26 October 2001. Arrangements are currently in hand to set up a public local inquiry. Ministers will make a decision once they have had the opportunity to consider the Inquiry Reporter’s findings and recommendations.

Police

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the ratio of police officers to special police constables was in each quarter since 1 April 1997, both nationally and broken down by police force area.

Mr Jim Wallace: Decisions on the numbers of police officers and special constables in each force are an operational matter for chief constables.

  Since September 1999 the numbers of special constables in each force have been collected each quarter. Prior to that, numbers were collected on an annual basis at 31 March. The information available is shown in the following tables.

  Ratio of Police Officers to Special Constables

  


Force 
  

31/3/97 
  

31/3/98 
  

31/3/99 
  

30/9/99 
  

31/12/99 
  



Central 
  

9:1 
  

10:1 
  

12:1 
  

12:1 
  

12:1 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

2:1 
  

2:1 
  

2:1 
  

3:1 
  

3:1 
  



Fife 
  

6:1 
  

7:1 
  

8:1 
  

9:1 
  

9:1 
  



Grampian 
  

8:1 
  

9:1 
  

10:1 
  

10:1 
  

10:1 
  



Lothian & Borders 
  

14:1 
  

14:1 
  

13:1 
  

16:1 
  

19:1 
  



Northern 
  

3:1* 
  

3:1* 
  

3:1* 
  

3:1 
  

3:1 
  



Strathclyde 
  

23:1 
  

23:1 
  

23:1 
  

21:1 
  

21:1 
  



Tayside 
  

5:1 
  

6:1 
  

6:1 
  

7:1 
  

7:1 
  



Total 
  

10:1* 
  

10:1* 
  

11:1* 
  

11:1 
  

11:1 
  



  Note:

  * Figures for Northern in these years are estimates.

  Ratio of Police Officers to Special Constables

  


Force 
  

31/3/00 
  

30/6/00 
  

30/9/00 
  

31/12/00 
  

31/3/01 
  



Central 
  

12:1 
  

12:1 
  

14:1 
  

14:1 
  

14:1 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

3:1 
  

3:1 
  

3:1 
  

4:1 
  

4:1 
  



Fife 
  

9:1 
  

8:1 
  

8:1 
  

8:1 
  

8:1 
  



Grampian 
  

10:1 
  

10:1 
  

10:1 
  

10:1 
  

11:1 
  



Lothian & Borders 
  

15:1 
  

15:1 
  

17:1 
  

18:1 
  

18:1 
  



Northern 
  

3:1 
  

3:1 
  

3:1 
  

3:1 
  

3:1 
  



Strathclyde 
  

21:1 
  

21:1 
  

21:1 
  

21:1 
  

22:1 
  



Tayside 
  

7:1 
  

7:1 
  

8:1 
  

8:1 
  

9:1 
  



Total 
  

11:1 
  

11:1 
  

12:1 
  

12:1 
  

12:1 
  



  

 

31/6/01 
  

30/9/01 
  



Central 
  

12:1 
  

12:1 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

3:1 
  

3:1 
  



Fife 
  

9:1 
  

8:1 
  



Grampian 
  

10:1 
  

10:1 
  



Lothian & Borders 
  

15:1 
  

15:1 
  



Northern 
  

3:1 
  

3:1 
  



Strathclyde 
  

21:1 
  

21:1 
  



Tayside 
  

7:1 
  

7:1 
  



Total 
  

11:1 
  

11:1

Police

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many special police constables there were per 1,000 of the population in each quarter since 1 April 1997, both nationally and broken down by police force area.

Mr Jim Wallace: Decisions on the numbers of police officers and special constables in each force are an operational matter for chief constables.

  Since September 1999 the numbers of special constables in each force have been collected each quarter. Prior to that, numbers were collected on an annual basis at 31 March. The information available is shown in the following tables.

  Number of Special Constables per 1,000 Population

  


Force 
  

31/3/97 
  

31/3/98 
  

31/3/99 
  

30/9/99 
  

31/12/99 
  



Central 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

1.3 
  

1.3 
  

1.3 
  

1.1 
  

1.1 
  



Fife 
  

0.4 
  

0.4 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  



Grampian 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  



Lothian & Borders 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  



Northern 
  

0.8* 
  

0.8* 
  

0.8* 
  

0.8 
  

0.8 
  



Strathclyde 
  

0.1 
  

0.1 
  

0.1 
  

0.1 
  

0.1 
  



Tayside 
  

0.5 
  

0.5 
  

0.5 
  

0.4 
  

0.4 
  



Total 
  

0.3* 
  

0.3* 
  

0.3* 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  



  Note:

  *Figures for Northern in these years are estimates.

  Number of Special Constables per 1,000 Population

  


Force 
  

31/3/00 
  

30/6/00 
  

30/9/00 
  

31/12/00 
  

31/3/01 
  



Central 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

1.1 
  

1.0 
  

0.9 
  

0.9 
  

0.9 
  



Fife 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  



Grampian 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  



Lothian & Borders 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  



Northern 
  

0.8 
  

0.8 
  

0.8 
  

0.8 
  

0.8 
  



Strathclyde 
  

0.1 
  

0.1 
  

0.1 
  

0.1 
  

0.1 
  



Tayside 
  

0.4 
  

0.4 
  

0.4 
  

0.4 
  

0.4 
  



Total 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  



  

 

30/6/01 
  

30/9/01 
  



Central 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

0.8 
  

0.7 
  



Fife 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  



Grampian 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  



Lothian & Borders 
  

0.2 
  

0.2 
  



Northern 
  

0.8 
  

0.8 
  



Strathclyde 
  

0.1 
  

0.1 
  



Tayside 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  



Total 
  

0.2 
  

0.2

Police

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to offer salaries or other new payments to special police constables.

Mr Jim Wallace: There are no proposals to offer salaries to special constables, but the case for paying an allowance to recognise levels of commitment is being explored.

Police

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to change the status or role of special police constables.

Mr Jim Wallace: There are no plans to change the status or role of special constables in Scotland.

Prison Service

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average cost is of detaining (a) a young offender for 10 days and (b) an adult offender for 11 days.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The current average cost per prisoner place for 2001-02 is £32,600.

  The target cost per prisoner place for 2001-02 is £32,600 which is about £89 a day. The total average costs of detaining young and adult offenders are not separately identifiable.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19196 by Iain Gray on 16 November 2001, what the cost to it has been of the office of the Scottish Prison Service Controller at HM Prison Kilmarnock in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99, (c) 1999-2000, (d) 2000-01 and (e) 2001-02 to date in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms at current prices.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The cost of the Controller’s function at HMP Kilmarnock has been:

  


at Current Prices 
  

Cash Terms
  (£000)


Real Terms
  (£000)




1997–98 
  

Nil 
  

Nil 
  



1998–99 
  

Nil 
  

Nil 
  



1999–2000 
  

£140 
  

£146 
  



2000–01 
  

£132 
  

£135 
  



2001 to date 
  

£103 
  

£103

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many members of staff the Scottish Prison Service Controller at HM Prison Kilmarnock has and what the role is of each

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  In addition to the Controller there are two members of staff. A Deputy Controller and an administrative officer. There is also a part time relief controller to provide cover for further absences.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to it of ensuring contract compliance at HM Prison Kilmarnock has been in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99, (d) 1999-2000, (e) 2000-01 and (f) 2001-02 to date in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms at current prices.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Controller and his staff are responsible for certain statutory functions as well as for contract monitoring. It is not possible to separately identify the costs associated with ensuring contract compliance. The cost of the Controller’s function at HMP Kilmarnock has been:

  


at Current Prices 
  

Cash Terms
  (£000)


Real Terms
  (£000)




1997–98 
  

Nil 
  

Nil 
  



1998–99 
  

Nil 
  

Nil 
  



1999–2000 
  

£140 
  

£146 
  



2000–01 
  

£132 
  

£135 
  



2001 to date 
  

£103 
  

£103

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many social workers provided social work services at (i) HM Prison Edinburgh, (ii) HM Young Offenders Institution Glenochil, (iii) HM Young Offenders Institution Dumfries and (iv) HM Young Offenders Institution Polmont in (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000, (c) 2000-01 and (d) 2001-02 and what the ratio of social workers to prisoners has been in each case.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows.

  The available information is as follows.

  The number of social workers providing social work service at Edinburgh Prison is currently five and the number of social workers providing social work service at Dumfries is currently 1.5.

  Glenochil and Polmont have social work service delivered through a contract and the service is therefore based on outputs rather then staff numbers.

  The information in previous years is not readily available and could not be collected except at disproportionate cost.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of social work services in (a) HM Prison Edinburgh, (b) HM Young Offenders Institution Glenochil, (c) HM Young Offenders Institution Dumfries and (d) HM Young Offenders Institution Polmont has been in (i) 1998-99, (ii) 1999-2000, (iii) 2000-01 and (iv) 2001-02 to date in (1) cash terms and (2) real terms at current prices.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is as follows:

  


 


(i) (£000s) 
  

(ii) (£000s) 
  

(iii) (£000s) 
  

(iv) (£000s) 
  



Cash 
  

Real 
  

Cash 
  

Real 
  

Cash 
  

Real 
  

Cash 
  

Real 
  



(a) 
  

264 
  

282 
  

281 
  

293 
  

247 
  

253 
  

77 
  

77 
  



(b) 
  

219 
  

234 
  

208 
  

217 
  

236 
  

242 
  

141 
  

141 
  



(c) 
  

32 
  

34 
  

42 
  

44 
  

40 
  

41 
  

13 
  

13 
  



(d) 
  

139 
  

148 
  

169 
  

176 
  

153 
  

157 
  

117 
  

117 
  



Total 
  

654 
  

698 
  

700 
  

730 
  

676 
  

693 
  

348 
  

348

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the expected cost of social work services in (a) HM Prison Edinburgh, (b) HM Young Offenders Institution Glenochil, (c) HM Young Offenders Institution Dumfries and (d) HM Young Offenders Institution Polmont is for 2001-02.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows.

  The expected cost of social work services for 2001-02 is as follows.

  


(a) HMP Edinburgh 
  

£300,000 
  



(b) HMP & YOI Glenochil 
  

£260,000 
  



(c) HMP Dumfries 
  

£67,000 
  



(d) HMP Polmont 
  

£190,000

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20324 by Mr Jim Wallace on 7 December 2001, what outputs are specified in the Medacs contracts with the Scottish Prison Service.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  SPS' contract for the provision of primary care medical services is to deliver services in accordance with our Standards for the Health Care of Prisoners published in 1998.

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3969 by Sarah Boyack on 1 November 2001, on what date it approved the winter maintenance plans in respect of each trunk roads maintenance contract awarded to AMEY Highways Ltd and BEAR Scotland Ltd and on what date these plans were required to be in place under these contracts.

Lewis Macdonald: The Contract requires the Operating Companies to submit their Winter Maintenance Plans to the Scottish Executive for detailed scrutiny by 31 July 2001.

  The plans are then scrutinised by the Performance Audit Group and, if necessary, amended or clarified before the Scottish Executive consents to the plans. There is no specified time limit within which the Scottish Executive is required to approve the plans.

  The Winter Maintenance Plans were consented to by the Scottish Executive on the following dates:

  


Operating Company / Unit 
  

Date Approved 
  



BEAR Scotland Ltd 
North East Unit 
  

16 October 2001 
  



BEAR Scotland Ltd 
North West Unit 
  

10 October 2001 
  



AMEY Highways Ltd
South East Unit 
  

5 October 2001 
  



AMEY Highways Ltd
South West Unit 
  

2 October 2001

Roads

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the results of any monitoring of BEAR Scotland Ltd’s compliance with its contract for trunk roads in the Highlands between 7 and 10 November 2001.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive routinely commission detailed reports to aid management of BEAR’s contract. These reports may well have contractual or commercial implications. Consequently publication is not appropriate. However, a report on the first year of operation of the new contracts will be published in the summer as indicated in the answer given to question S1W-20533 on 26 November 2001.

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to paragraph 2.37 of Audit Scotland’s The new trunk road contracts, what routine work has not been done to the level or standard required by (a) Amey Highways Ltd and (b) BEAR (Scotland) Ltd and what remedial action has been taken by (i) it and (ii) the contractor in respect of each such occurrence.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to paragraph 2.39 of Audit Scotland’s The new trunk road contracts, what monies have been withheld from (a) Amey Highways Ltd and (b) BEAR (Scotland) Ltd in respect of any failure to meet trunk road maintenance contractual requirements.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to paragraph 2.40 of Audit Scotland’s The new trunk road contracts, whether any new working methods have been identified and proposed by (a) Amey Highways Ltd and (b) BEAR Scotland Ltd and what the timescale for implementation is in each case.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20533 on 26 November 2001.

Roads

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7052 by Sarah Boyack on 19 June 2000, what the (a) net revenue expenditure on roads maintenance and (b) gross capital expenditure on the structural maintenance of roads were in respect of each local authority in 2000-01.

Lewis Macdonald: The following tables show provisional figures provided by each local authority at (a) for the net revenue expenditure on roads and winter maintenance; and at (b) the gross capital payments for expenditure for structural maintenance of roads, in 2000-01.

  (a)

  


Roads and Road Lighting
Provisional Outturns 2000-01 
  



 


Road Maintenance
(£000) 
  

Winter Maintenance
(£000) 
  



Aberdeen, City 
  

3,725 
  

1,505 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

6,817 
  

3,546 
  



Angus 
  

2,522 
  

1,280 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

5,960 
  

1,891 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

543 
  

256 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

5,609 
  

1,123 
  



Dundee 
  

2,297 
  

1,062 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

3,739 
  

1,207 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

2,475 
  

658 
  



East Lothian 
  

1,862 
  

720 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

1,622 
  

500 
  



Edinburgh, City 
  

9,155 
  

1,110 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

2,986 
  

1,713 
  



Falkirk 
  

1,480 
  

1,085 
  



Fife 
  

5,000 
  

4,089 
  



Glasgow 
  

12,389 
  

1,726 
  



Highland 
  

11,371 
  

7,925 
  



Inverclyde 
  

1,540 
  

292 
  



Midlothian 
  

2,105 
  

597 
  



Moray 
  

1,781 
  

1,350 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

2,179 
  

580 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

4,824 
  

1,959 
  



Orkney 
  

2,784 
  

750 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

4,672 
  

2,031 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

5,830 
  

729 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

6,320 
  

1,464 
  



Shetland 
  

4,942 
  

940 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

3,800 
  

873 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

10,663 
  

3,515 
  



Stirling 
  

2,607 
  

1,324 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

2,862 
  

560 
  



West Lothian 
  

3,797 
  

1,475 
  



Scotland 
  

140,258 
  

49,835 
  



  Notes: The figures in this table are taken from local authorities' annual Provisional Outturn & Budget Estimate Return to the Scottish Executive.

  Figures do not include Capital From Current Revenue or any loan/leasing charges.

  (b)

  


Structural Maintenance of Roads
Gross Capital Payments 
  



 


2000-2001 
  

£000 
  



Total Gross1 Capital Payments 
  

of which capital funded from current revenue 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

1,745 
  

0 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Angus 
  

99 
  

0 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

1,491 
  

0 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

246 
  

100 
  



Dundee City 
  

100 
  

0 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

558 
  

0 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

0 
  

0 
  



East Lothian 
  

287 
  

0 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

3,184 
  

0 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

95 
  

0 
  



Falkirk 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Fife 
  

5,833 
  

0 
  



Glasgow City 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Highland 
  

454 
  

0 
  



Inverclyde 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Midlothian 
  

242 
  

0 
  



Moray 
  

2,083 
  

631 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

1,029 
  

0 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

1,402 
  

0 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

2,796 
  

1,934 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

761 
  

0 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

0 
  

0 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

348 
  

0 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

1,840 
  

764 
  



Stirling 
  

2,402 
  

1,327 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

155 
  

0 
  



West Lothian 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Scotland 
  

27,150 
  

4,756 
  



  Note:

  1. Data for financial year 2000-2001 are provisional and are as supplied by councils on the statistical return Capital Payments and their Financing CPR FIN 4 2000-01. (1) Gross Capital Payments are payments both funded and not funded from revenue. Capital Payments are on a cash (not accruals) basis.

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20401 by Lewis MacDonald on 10 December 2001, why it did not give its reasons for preventing Amey Highways Ltd and BEAR (Scotland) Ltd from responding directly to enquiries from the media as requested and when it will do so.

Lewis Macdonald: The reason for precluding the Operating Companies from responding directly to enquiries from the media was confirmed in my answer to question S1W-20401. This condition was included in the contract to clearly define areas of responsibility between the Scottish Executive and the Operating Companies in respect of dealings with the media. However, the Operating Companies are now permitted to respond directly to the media on factual or operational matters, as indicated in my answer to question S1W-19992. The Executive remains responsible for responding to the media on matters of policy or finance.

Roads

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made to the formula used to determine the grant aided expenditure allocations for (a) roads maintenance and (b) winter roads maintenance following the removal of the maintenance contracts from local authorities.

Mr Andy Kerr: The maintenance contracts awarded to private contractors were for trunk road maintenance, provision for which has always been outwith the local government settlement. The grant aided expenditure formulae for road maintenance and winter maintenance reflect local authorities’ continuing responsibilities for maintaining local roads, and they are unchanged.

Schools

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20218 by Nicol Stephen on 6 December 2001, on which dates the annual recurrent grant for St Mary’s Episcopal Primary School in Dunblane was determined in each of the last four years.

Nicol Stephen: The annual recurrent grant for St Mary’s Episcopal Primary School, Dunblane was determined on the following dates in each of the last four years:

  


1998-1999 
  

11-Nov-98 
  



1999-2000 
  

22-Nov-99 
  



2000-2001 
  

21-Sep-00 
  



2001-2002 
  

06-Dec-01

Schools

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19777 by Nicol Stephen on 5 December 2001, what the reasons were for the closure of the four primary schools in the Stirling area.

Nicol Stephen: The decisions to close the schools concerned were the responsibility of Stirling Council. The Scottish Executive had no role in that process and does not hold information on the reasons for the closures.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19774 by Ms Margaret Curran on 21 November 2001, whether the present coverage of the Social Inclusion Partnership programme meets the needs of any groups or individuals suffering from social exclusion in rural areas like Dumfries and Galloway.

Ms Margaret Curran: A network of 48 Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIPs) has been established in both urban and rural areas across Scotland. The network includes both area-based partnerships, and partnerships which are tackling exclusion in particular groups.

  SIPs are broadly-based partnerships between the local authority and other public agencies such as the LEC; local health boards, the voluntary and private sectors, and have the local community at their heart. They are expected to target existing spending programmes more effectively on tackling social exclusion at a local level. In addition, we are making a total of £176 million core funding from the Social Inclusion Partnership Fund available to support their activities over the three years to March 2004.

  Some of the SIPs cover areas that can be described as a mix of rural and urban. Others are addressing the problems of exclusion in rural areas. For example:

  Argyll and Bute SIP

  East Ayrshire Coalfields Area SIP

  Highland Well-being Alliance SIP

  Moray Youthstart SIP

  Scottish Borders SIP.

Special Advisers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Special Advisers or other civil servants can be expected to help ministers with constituency correspondence, accounts relating to the costs of constituency offices or other constituency matters.

Mr Andy Kerr: Civil servants are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the Civil Service Code. Special Advisers are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the model contract for Special Advisers, which incorporates the Civil Service Code, although they are exempted from the provisions of the code which require political objectivity and impartiality.

Special Advisers

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the names of its Special Advisers are, including those working for the First Minister; what the cost is of their collective employment, and whether any positions remain to be filled and, if so, what the anticipated cost of filling them is.

Mr Jack McConnell: The team of Special Advisers at present comprises the following seven people:

  Mike Donnelly

  Jeane Freeman

  Sam Ghibaldan

  Tom Little

  Rachel McEwen

  Polly McPherson

  Andy Rowe

  The estimated salary cost for these seven advisers for a 12 month period would be £386,588, plus national insurance and pension contributions of £107,542, at present salary levels.

  The estimated actual cost in the current financial year (2001-02) covering salary, national insurance and pension contributions for all advisers, including the advisers in post earlier in the financial year, is £787,793.

  If and when further Special Adviser appointments are made within the statutory limit of 12 further announcements will be made.

  In keeping with standard practice individuals’ salary details are not revealed. I will publish the anticipated annual cost from time to time.

Special Educational Needs

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any guidance issued to local education authorities regarding the use of a Record of Needs.

Cathy Jamieson: The Executive issued general guidance to local authorities on Records of Needs legislation and good practice in Circular 4/96 – Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs: Assessment and Recording and the Manual of Good Practice . Further guidance will be produced following completion of the current review of the Records of Needs process.

Special Educational Needs

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any guidance issued to educational psychologists regarding the follow-up action after diagnosis of a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the use of a Record of Needs in this situation.

Nicol Stephen: Guidance issued by the Scottish Executive refers to the circumstances under which any child with special educational needs (SEN) requires a Record of Needs. It does not refer in detail to any particular disorder such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

  This guidance is contained in the Manual of Good Practice for all staff and professionals involved with children and young people with special educational needs, Effective Provision for Special Educational Needs (EPSEN), Circular 4/96: Children and Young People with SEN – Assessment and Recording, Taking a Closer Look at Promoting Social Competence and Sharing Good Practice. The information in these documents is applicable to educational psychologists considering whether a child with ADHD requires a Record of Needs.

Special Educational Needs

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many educational psychologists have specific training in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, broken down by health board area.

Nicol Stephen: Educational psychologists are employed within local authorities.

  Data is not collected centrally on individual educational psychologists’ levels of professional training in particular specialist areas of psychology, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, educational psychologists will be introduced to literature on ADHD during their training and will gain experience of working with children with ADHD during placements. In addition, those already in post will have opportunities to update their knowledge in this area through Continuing Professional Development.

Special Educational Needs

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how, and to whom, it promotes the use of Records of Needs.

Nicol Stephen: It is the responsibility of education authorities in terms of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to establish which children in their area have pronounced, specific or complex special educational needs which require continuing review. If a child is assessed as having such needs then the education authority must open and keep a Record of Needs.

  The Executive issues general guidance to local authorities, parents and others on Records of Needs legislation and good practice in Circular 4/96 – Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs: Assessment and Recording and the Manual of Good Practice. Additional information for parents is available in the Parents’ Guide to Special Educational Needs and through the Enquire helpline funded by the Scottish Executive. Further guidance will be produced following completion of the current review of the Records of Needs process.

Speed Limits

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used in assessing whether a speed limit should be 40, 30 or 20 miles per hour and what criteria are used when considering any requests or representations for reductions in speed limits.

Lewis Macdonald: The criteria used by the Scottish Executive in determining speed limits on trunk roads are set out in Scottish Office Industry Department Circular 1/93, copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 17782). Requests and representations for reductions in speed limits are considered in accordance with the criteria. The Executive commends the use of the criteria to local roads authorities for application to decisions concerning speed limits on local roads. It is, however, for each authority to decide whether or not to apply the criteria in any particular case.

  On 17 August 2001 the Executive issued revised guidance to local authorities on 20 mph speed limits. Scottish Executive Development Department Circular 6/2001, copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 17781), provides advice on the setting of mandatory and advisory 20 mph speed limits.

Student Finance

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the assessment of the advice given by the Principals of Scottish universities on the transfer of the functions of the Studentship Advisory Committee of the Student Awards Agency for Scotland to a UK-wide body included an assessment of any consultation carried out by individual Principals and their research staff.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Executive’s understanding of the views of higher education institutions was based on representations received from Universities Scotland, as the sector’s representative body. Internal consultation within institutions is a matter for the members of Universities Scotland.

Unsolicited Faxes

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what analyses have been made of the volume of unsolicited faxes sent to schools and any problems which they cause.

Cathy Jamieson: The Executive has not undertaken any analysis of unsolicited faxes sent to schools.

Unsolicited Faxes

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government in support of a publicity campaign being conducted to inform people living in poverty, those in debt, pensioners and other vulnerable members of the community of the implications of using premium rate phone calls to respond to unsolicited faxes.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The regulation of activities relating to the sending of direct marketing faxes and premium rate phone services is reserved to the UK Government.

  Individuals are protected by law from receiving direct marketing faxes, and corporate subscribers can apply for the same protection by registering with the Fax Preference Service (FPS) run by the Direct Marketing Association. The law also requires that direct marketing faxes must include the name and either the address of the sender or a freephone telephone number on which the sender can be contacted. Any individual or FPS subscriber who receives an unsolicited marketing fax may complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office, which investigates cases and can fine or bar offending parties where appropriate.

  Premium rate service providers are regulated by the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) which requires service providers, among other things, to state the charge for calls to each service clearly in all promotions. Those who breach the Code may be fined or disconnected. Anyone with a query or complaint about a premium rate service may contact ICSTIS directly on their freephone number.

Unsolicited Faxes

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government to ensure that it is consulted over those issues that fall within its responsibility which are being considered by the European Parliament related to the sending of unsolicited faxes.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the regulation of unsolicited faxes.